Q:
What does the Rav say about Albert Einstein being crowned Man of the Century?
A:
So, he was crowned Man of the Century? So what? Who crowned him?! That’s the first thing we have to know – who crowned him? If he was crowned by a frum organization, let’s say the Agudas Ha’Rabbonim, then maybe. But who crowned him?! Ignorant people. Amei ha’aretz. So it doesn’t mean a thing to me.
TAPE E-214 (November 1999)
Would the Rav advise me to buy a lottery ticket?Q:
A:
Last week somebody asked this question. If you want to buy a lottery ticket you should do it only once. And what you should do is to make alot of tefillosbeforehand. Before you buy that ticket pray to Hashem. Alot of davening – a few months of being mispallel. And after that one time, forget about it.
TAPE # E-214 (November 1999)
Q:
Could the Rav please explain the concept of “bitachon” in one sentence?
A:
Bitachon means to say that Hashem knows what’s best for us – that’s all.
TAPE # E-216 (December 1999)
Do you encourage frum Jews to put on Rabbeinu Tam tefillin?Q:
A:
Look, I don’t do it. If you want to do it, I can’t tell you anything about that subject. It’s not my subject at all. Ask somebody who does it. Ask him what he thinks about it.
TAPE # E-217 (December 1999)
How should a girl know what’s more important – to daven Mincha or to help her mother?Q:
A:
The mother comes first. No question about it. And you can always find time for Mincha too. As a reward for helping your mother you’ll find time for Mincha. Or you can make sure to daven Mincha earlier – before your mother asks you for help.
TAPE # E-217 (December 1999)
Q:
What should be our reaction to the Pope coming to Medinas Yisroel for a papal visit?
A:
What should our reaction be?! [THE RAV PAUSED FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN LAUGHED] Matzah min es mino. Any other questions?
TAPE # E-220 (January 2000)
When the spirit of Hashem left Shaul, he fell into a depression. Does that mean that anybody who gets depressed today has been abandoned by Hashem?Q:
A:
Look, if Shaul became depressed because the Shechina left him, what is the mashal – what is the connection to us? Many people are depressed because they don’t sleep enough. That’s the truth. In so many cases, if you investigate you’ll find that that’s the reason. The lack of sleep is so often the crack – the opening – for depression to creep in. A person must get enough sleep.
TAPE # E-223 (February 2000)
